BATSMEN FIGHT HARD

Chronicle (Levin), 17 December 1946, Page 5

BATSMEN FIGHT HARD

Press AS,

Australia's Position Fairly Strong PLAY IN SECOND TEST

By Telegrayh

sn.+Copyright

Received Monday, 9.15 p.m. ! SYDNEY, Dec. 1(5, ( ' ' With six wickets in hand Australia is but three runs short of England 's llrst innings total of 255 in the seeortd 'Test. Thus, despite last use of the wicket, Australia is' in a fairly strong position. The hoffle batsmen had to iight hard all day to make funs. Barnes, in scoriiig his first Test cen tury against England, was Australia's sheet anchor. AgainSt really fine bowling he was steadineSs personified. The Englishinen were i'ight on their toes.from the first ball today and keen, smart lielding backed up tlie bovvJers' line effprts. Bradman, handicapped by 'his injured leg, ably supported Barnes aiul at stuinps tliis pair had added 93, runs in an unbi'oken lifth wicket part nership, A remarkable Monday erowd of 51,459 witnessed play% Perfect weather prevailed when thegame resumed — a cloudless skv with- a cool breeze tempering the hot sun. The wicket appeared to have eomplete ly recovered from Saturday 's soaking. Edrich, who took up the attack with Bedser, worked up a line t.urn of speed and had Johnson caught in the cover.s in his seeond over today. Edrich 's ligures then read two for 15. Australia, with two down for 37 when llassett joined Barnes, was struggling for rurm and the batsmen found them very luird to get. Barnes in 40 minutes tli is morning added only live and Australia 's total crawled to 50 in 107 minutes. Wright, like Edricli and Bed ser, eaused the batsmen qutte a few anxious moments and it was not untii Smith was given tlie ball that Barne.and Hassett made forceful strokes. In Wright 's fifth over, however, Hassett scored two fours, the lirst of which lofted to the ouside aiul just fell sliori of the fence. ' At lunch Australia's seore was two for 88. Barnes and Hassett had added 51 for a third wicket partnership which had helped valuably in restoring Ans tralia's earlier poor position. Siuitli and Edrich took up tlie attack after lunch and in Edrich 's lirst ovei Hassett pulled a high-kicking ball to Coiupton lielding oii the boundary be hind square leg, Hassett had given a souiul batting perfortnance for 81 minutes. Edrich had three for 27 when Miller joined Barnes. , Shortlv thereat'ter Barnes reached 50 a,nd Australia's l()(i came up simultarieously in 165 minutes. While Barnes contimied slolidly Aliller began in dashing style. Quiek liovvJing chaiiges were made but Miller treated all ahkc, scoring three sizzling liomnlaries — two off Bedser and one oif Wright — in his lirst 20 runs. All craslied into the olfside fence. This burst was short lived aml there followed some very aceurate bowling by Bedser and Wright, for the next haif "hour in which tlie liiDtsmou eqi -v&ry • rpii et . 'Barne;* then scored two fours from suecessive bulls from Wright and made the partnership worth 50 after (55 minutes. With the addition of 15 runs, Miller was smart ly caught at the wicket oil a ball which he attemtped to cut. 11c batted 73 ininufes and hit seven fours in ari -attractive knock. Bradman (limping from a strained groiu muscle) came in just before tea ;it which time the seore was four for 169. After tea Smith— now bowling much bctler — aird Wright had charge of the attack aird they called the tune. Bradman 's play sull'ered because of his injured leg Imt Barnes, too, was subrlued. It took Bradman 45 minutes to reach double ligures. Some of his scoring shots, however, were reduced in vafue because of his inability to run very fast. Large ly in ones and twos but with the aid of an occasional ooundary, the total erept to 200 in 300 minutes. Bradman hit his tirst four atter being at the crease 65 minutes. Five, minutes after the partnership was worth 50 runs. Thig was the third 50 partnership of the innings. •Bedser land t Edricli ophrat'ed . with a'nevv ball but they were less threatening (o the Australiansr ' than had been Wright and Smith. Barnes, after being stationary on 90 for about 20 minutes, scored two twos to reach the eenturv after 370 minutes. This was an exceedingiy slow knock for Barnes who is usuaily a dashing batsman. Barnes and Bradman played steadily until stumps. Barnes had then been at the wickets 408 minutes and Bradman 115 minutes. Barnes had hit seven foiirs and Bradman six. Seores:— AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Barnes, not out . . 109 Morris, b Edrich 5 Johnson/ e Washbyook, b Edrich . . 7 Hassett, c Compton, b Edrich .... 34 Miller, c Evans, b Smith 40 Bradman, not out 52 Extras 5 Total, for four wickets . . . . 252 Wiekejts fell: 1 for 24, 2 for 37, 3 for 96, 4 for 159. Bowling: Bedser 0 for 69, Edrich 3 for 59, Wright 0 for 52, Smith 1 for 67.